Motivation

Science in Brazil has demonstrated a significant growth in recent years. However, the country still faces major challenges ahead: (a) increase the number of PhD's relative to population, (b) enhance the interaction between academia and both the business sector and civil society, (c) promote international collaborations in scientific publications, and (d) foster the rate of patent applications nationally and internationally.

Every highly qualified academic or research center around the globe is experiencing an intense process of internationalization, increasing its visibility and addressing the needs of today's globalized world. Brazilian institutions need to rapidly engage in this process since several factors still hinder a more international view of the Science made in the country. The educational system, for instance, has no current actions aimed to effectively amplify the interaction of native students with other countries and cultures.

In the 1970's and 1980's, there was a significant number of Brazilians training abroad. Upon their return, these scientists contributed to the vigorous development of science produced in Brazil. Now, the country needs a new program to strongly encourage the internationalization of technology and innovation. The mobility program proposed here aims to launch experimentally the seeds of what could revolutionize the educational system in Brazil, exposing students to an environment of high competitiveness and entrepreneurship. Besides contributing to the correction of the above mentioned limitations, the Science without Borders Program aims to attract young investigators and internationally recognized research leaders to Brazil.